Rätikon West

Main danger: fresh snow and snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow

Main danger: fresh snow and snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow

Fresh snowdrifts are prone to triggering particularly in ridgeline zones, but also distant from ridgelines, wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. They tend to increase with ascending altitude. Medium slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole winter sports enthusiast. If they fracture to deeper layers they can grow to large size. Above 2400 m on steep shady slopes there are unfavourable layers in the old snowpack. Activities in backcountry demand experience in avalanche danger assessment on-site. In steep rocky terrain above 2400 m the fresh snow can trigger small to medium loose-snow avalanches naturally.

By this evening in the Silvretta, 10-15 cm of fresh snow has fallen, in the Rätikon 10 cm. Westerly winds at strong-to-storm strength transported the new snow and loose old snow. The fresh snow and fresh drifts from recent days have been able to settle somewhat in the mild temperatures, and consolidate. Fresh snow and drifts lie atop loosely-packed and soft layers, on older snowdrift masses or atop melt-freeze encrusted surfaces and are often riddled with graupel. Bonding to the old snowpack deteriorates with ascending altitude. At high altitudes on steep shady slopes in particular, there are still weak layers deeply embedded inside the snowpack which are not visible to the naked eye.

Nocturnal hours: Skies will be slightly cloudy, westerly winds will slacken off. Monday: southerly foehn winds will alternated with cloudbanks as they pass through, accompanied by intervals of sunshine. Towards evening, clouds will become denser, a few snow showers are possible. Southerly foehn winds from the southwest will be brisk to strong.

Cloudbanks passing through will alternate with sunny intervals on Tuesday. Some foehn wind influence. Towards evening, clouds will move in, light snowfall set in. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change initially.